1981 Denver Broncos season

The 1981 Denver Broncos season was the team's 22nd year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League (NFL). The 1981 season depicted Denver trying to improve on their 8-8 record in 1980. They did improve on their record, finishing 10-6. However, they would miss the playoffs by virtue of their head to head loss to the Buffalo Bills during the season. After a very fast 8-3 start, Denver would lose 3 of their final 5 games, including a critical loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in week 12. Denver would finish 8-0 at home, but a 2-6 road record proved to doom the Broncos at season's end.